Our Baby Registry Must Haves (Spoiler Alert: You Won't Find Any Onesies Here)
Our Baby Registry Must Haves (Spoiler Alert: You Won't Find Any Onesies Here) | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers | No-Nonsense Baby Essentials
My BABY REGISTRY advice / tips / tricks / personal choices that worked for us:
-> Just going to come out of the gates saying that everyone is different here and there’s no universally right way to do these things. This is just what worked for us and what I’ve picked up along the way…
My #1 takeaway when people send me their registries they are working on (this happens all the time actually) is too much CUTESY BABY CRAP and not enough ESSENTIALS FOR THE BIRTHING PERSON.
If your friends and family aren’t willing to buy you titty cream because they think it’s weird and they would rather just send you a ton of brand new onesies you might get one run out of, well, they need to do better. Birth is beautiful but it’s also messy and mamas need real support, not just materialistic stuff.
For Real Support:
- Childbirth Education
- Doulas
- Fourth Trimester Support
- Photographers
- Midwives
- Chiro, massage
For Birth and Postpartum
Okay mamas / birthing persons / support persons: PUT SOME STUFF ON YOUR REGISTRY FOR YOU. It’s not selfish, it’s essential. A nice robe, slippers, something that will make you feel luxurious when you feel like a leaking tired cow otherwise.
Frida Mom Postpartum is my actual MUST HAVE item. Trust me, your vag will thank you. Get this kit for anyone you know who is expecting a baby and you’ll be the real MVP.
Staying hydrated is super important, as is maintaining your electrolytes. So I used the coconut water powder quite a bit. The Manuka honey can also be a good food source in labor, and doubles as a good topical option for tears. Postpartum bath salts also come in clutch… trust me.
The SMEG Espresso Machine is the real pro-move, y’all. You’re freaking tired with a baby, might as well drink good coffee.
Breast/Chest-feeding (if that’s your thing) + Bottles
Breastfeeding was (lol, is, because no end in sight here) such a great option for Capa and I. And we were lucky to have a pretty easy go at it from the beginning, but it does not always come naturally to babies or mamas. Here’s my official plug for getting a certified lactation support person before it gets overwhelming. Do tons of skin to skin. Probably disregard most of the weird schedules that a lot of hospitals push… newborns do best (again, in my non-expert opinion) with on demand feeding.
For supplements to help with milk supply, I’ve done the chews, the teas, a fenugreek supplement thing, and brewers yeast. My supply has always been fine so I haven’t really needed too much but I figure it can’t hurt.
Anyway, as a full time working mama, pumping saved our BFing journey and I couldn’t have done it without being hands free with the Willow. Don’t get me wrong I have a love/hate relationship with these things, but they were worth every freaking penny. Go with the Elvie, if you prefer. They’re basically the same. And you know what, I got mine on marketplace from someone who didn’t end up breastfeeding. For like half the price and no shame.
I just use the generic breastmilk bags and not the willow ones, too. Saves a ton of money and isn’t much more difficult.
The manual pump is honestly so easy if I just need to pump a little and don’t have time to do the full willow set up / clean up / dump situation. No frills, no nonsense… Super cheap, no learning curve, I still use this thing at least a few times a week.
We introduced bottles around three or four weeks and Capa took right to them. And we only ever owned like three of them. No need for a big huge stash here… It can be more simple than it seems.
The pumping backpack cooler is great because it’s pretty discreet (I could have it out with my camera equipment and not get any looks), but it helped to keep all that milk cold for the long hours I’d be on the road!
Baby Wearing
I could baby wear all f—ing day long. I love it and honestly couldn’t imagine getting through the first year without having Capa strapped to our chests and backs.
The NuRoo Shirt was one of my absolute faves and I miss that stage now. A kangaroo shirt designed for skin to skin which has soooo many benefits but is also just the best.
Infantino Convertible Carrier: is honestly so cheap and kind of great. We started using it more when Capa got bigger and can wear him facing in, facing out, or as a backpack.
I absolutely love the Ergo Baby Wrap and a lot of caretakers are intimidated by how to tie it but honestly it’s not that hard to learn and so comfy. This this was a total lifesaver. Personally, wasn’t a fan of the k’tan because I found it too tight on my boobs but I know a lot of people who love it.
Diapering
Okay, so we decided to hybrid diaper (cloth at home and disposables on the road). There are ups and downs to each approach but I’m pretty happy with the combo for us. We definitely saved some $$ with reusables, hopefully did some good for the landfills, and I’ll admit it was nice to never worry about running out of diapers (except when we were on the road).
Anyway, Costco for disposables– no shame– they are so much cheaper. And “All In Ones” or “AOIs” for cloth.
Stroller / Car Seat
There’s a million to choose from and everyone is going to have an opinion here. I’d recommend going to a store (we did BuyBuy Baby) and try them out in person to see what clicks. Terrence really wanted a jogger to go running with Capa in, so that feature has been nice. But the drawbacks of the model we got are (1) it’s huge and pretty cumbersome (2) the front wheel gets wonky. But the carseat safety was a priority to us, so Graco it was. Our runner up was the Mockingbird, which I’ve heard nothing but great things about, too.
Eating
We introduced solids around 6 months and did a relaxed version of Baby Led Weaning. What I’ve gathered for high chairs is that it is important that they can rest their legs on the base. And for self-feeding, just be prepared for mess and go with it. That’s how they learn and explore foods.
The portable high chair is pretty great for our lifestyles, as is some other little trays and snackers. We also recently introduced the EZPZ Cup in addition to regular sippy cups which is mostly successful.
Sleep (or lacktherof lol):
Capa is a shit sleeper and we’re shit at enforcing any sort of bedtime routine. So take this one with a grain of salt…
The sleep sacks have been helpful as he’s more mobile because they signify bed time, restrict some of the ease of his walking around, the little weighted bean thing is supposed to be calming. Idk. You can find a lot of differing info out there and some people don’t suggest the weighted function. Suit yourself.
Moses Basket Bassinet: We used this way longer than I thought we would, actually. Kept it right next to my side of the bed and the dockatot fit right in it. Again, not technically safe sleep so I’m not endorsing anything officially. It’s just what worked for us.
The white noise machine (which is going while I type this) has been helpful. Sometimes I think it’s more for me because I wake at the slightest grunt baby makes at night, but we also don’t keep a quiet house and welcome noisy sleep environments.
The pack n play is one of those staple items, but Capa has legit always hated being in it. When it’s full of toys he will occasionally spend 5-10 min in there but he won’t sleep in it. We’ve tried… maybe not as hard as we could have, but hey.
Dockatot: Another controversial item (what sleep item isn’t, though?) because it’s not technically safe sleep. It’s low key designed to be a co-sleeper but they can’t market it that way, but listen, Capa slept AMAZINGLY in this thing and I 100% swear by it.
Capa never liked to be fully swaddled, even from day one, and would manage to squirm one or both arms out. We did use the Ollie Swaddle and had some success with it. It’s super easy to use so I would recommend it, for sure. Get yourself a good stack of muslin cloths going too, for burps and beyond. But I would say to wait to see how your kiddo likes being bundled up before getting a whole bunch of different swaddles and stuff.
Misc Items:
If you’re going to be around open water / boats, a life jacket is a must. We don’t use it for “fun swim” and will avoid floaties and puddle jumpers, but living on Long Island, we are on boats quite often and this one is non-negotiable. Make sure the fit is good and don’t take it off, even for a moment if you’re on a boat. Duh.
The vitamin D is a supplement that we did, especially in the first six months, since breastmilk does not contain any of this vitamin. I believe formula does, but always check with your doctor first!
We’re super hesitant to use things like acetominophen, but when the baby is truly in pain we will give him some. Particularly for flights, where we always give him the minimum amount 30 min before takeoff for ear pressure.
Magnetic cabinet locks, because all the other ones suck in my opinion. We try not to go too hard on baby proofing, but things like the liquor cabinet and cleaning cabinets are locked up. I’d also recommend those outlet plug things, especially if your baby likes to live on the edge like ours.
We love the drawer dividers for baby’s dresser and can’t imagine trying to organize without them. Onesies are freaking tiny, and we just roll everything up and keep them in sight like that.
And the touch free thermometer is also great, because idk about you but I’d rather not stick one up his butthole to find out if he is running a fever…
Baby nail grinder / file thing has honestly been a lifesaver. Clipping their nails with scissors or clippers is terrifying to me. Their nails are so small. They are attached to the freaking skin. Babies wiggle and squirm and the whole thing has been so much easier with this grinder thing.
The noise canceling headphones got us through many weddings and even a red rocks concert. Benefit is they obviously protect sensitive ears. Downside is babies love to take them off…
These little chamomile teething tablets are one of the only “remedy” things we use for teething. I’m not even sure if they work, but Capa loves them and the ingredients are pretty harmless IMO.
The Otteroo was one of our favorite things to do with Capa until he started teething. The mini was perfect for him because it gave him some body autonomy / movement freedom and I think really helped him fall in love with bath time. Once he started really teething he figured out how to hook his mouth underneath the neck ring which sort of put an end to it, but it was AMAZING until then.
Stuff that I personally did not end up really needing:
Nursing pads: I used them a bit in the first few weeks when my supply was still regulating, but never needed since. I did buy the nice bamboo ones, but they just sit in a drawer now and never get used. Some women end up needing them much longer, so I think this is on a case by case basis.
The boppy pillow: Okay some people swear by these so I don’t want to yuck your yum… but it was pretty useless for us. Shape and size wasn’t optimal for breastfeeding, and Capa didn’t really like it for tummy time. Sits in the closet.
Hakka breast pump: Another one that is a popular “must have” for people, but I hated how it felt. Suction was awkward and not super productive for me. I know they make a catcher for strictly let down that I might have gone for if I was doing it again.
Baby Brezza Sterilizer: We used it, but I wouldn’t call it a "must have” by any stretch of the imagination. Like was it nice to not have to boil bottles? Sure. But it still took a long time and always sort of rusted at the bottom and stuff. Sits in our basement…
Nursing Cover: Lololol I’ve literally never used this. No shame if covering up is your thing it just seems so cumbersome and not at all my jam. Capa would hate it. I’d hate it. I’m team ‘whip-em-out’ but again, that’s just me. I think you can use this thing as a carseat cover too… who knows.
Things We Never Bought And Don’t Miss:
A Crib: This one might surprise you, but we don’t have a crib. We have the pack n play and that still barely gets touched. Capa recently transitioned into a Montessori style toddler bed on the floor, and I think that’s going to be the one that sticks.
The Snoo: Get at me… but $1600 was more than we were willing to shell out. And the rental didn’t really add up, either. I know people who say they couldn’t have lived without it, but we did and lived to tell the tale.
A baby monitor: We legit don’t have a monitor, at all. Capa’s always near us and we’ve really enjoyed using our intuition instead of apps to keep him under our watch.
The Owlet: Another one that we decided to use more intuition / less apps for. I honestly went back and forth over this one, but I’ve read recalls for burns, skepticism over technology on babies, and false alarms for these so I opted not to. Having said that, if Capa was born premature or had certain health concerns, I’d reconsider.
Baby Bath: Capa has never actually been in one of those special baby baths and to us, it just seemed like a waste. We bathed with him when he was a newborn (and still do a lot), and he’s always loved bath time. I honestly preferred skin to skin for newbie baths over putting them in a special tub, but that’s just me.
Hand-Me-Down / MARKETPLACE Stuff That Came Up Clutch:
Clothes. All the clothes!! We didn’t buy a single item of clothing retail for Capa until he was 11 months old. We didn’t put any clothing on our registry because PEOPLE LOVE TO GIVE YOU BABY CLOTHES. Gifts, hand me downs, etc. Trust me, there are plenty of outgrown outfits that we still have with tags on them….
Mamaroo: “The Spaceship” we called this one. We got one hand me down + one as a loaner. Wouldn’t recommend doing a new one and would totally recommend marketplace or a friend if possible.
Swings, bouncers, play mats, etc— there is SO much stuff that you don’t need to buy new. Honestly, the only things I think you HAVE to have new are the carseat, life jacket, and bottles.
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Eight Years Ago Today I Started My Degree At Columbia University
Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers | Long Island Photographer | Columbia University NYC | Destination Weddings | Heather Huie
Eight years ago today I started my degree at Columbia University.
I’d like to say that this was a decision that really launched my career, took my art to a new level, and set me apart from the competition– but I’d be lying. In fact, my shiny advanced ivy level education was remarkably… unremarkable.
Let’s back it up a bit here. The year was 2014 and I was two years out of my bachelors that I had completed at TCNJ. My undergrad experience was one that challenged me, kept me in the library until the lights were turned off, left me in the studio so late sometimes that the only other person in the building would be the security guard as he trailed back and forth through the hallways on his graveyard shifts. There I’d be in an otherwise dark corridor, typing away, illuminated by only the light on my laptop and his flashlight, and without saying a word he would just nod his hat in my direction, or occasionally throw me a peace sign.
Things look a lot different now
My professors had expected a lot out of me, and I happily rose to the occasion.
When I graduated magna cum laude, I felt at once a sense of pride as well as a strange solitude. Even a little disappointment, if we’re being honest… I had spent so much time reaching for perfect GPAs there that I had failed to make time for developing many true friendships. While others were fratting away with their Theta Beta Bimbos, I saw no appeal in rallies and rumbles. I felt, in many ways, that I had gotten all of that buddy buddy brethren out in boarding school, and it was time to focus on my academics. So I did.
Nevertheless, I still felt like I had something more to say (prove?) in the world of academia so two years later I threw an application at Columbia and was delighted to be accepted into their Masters program. I had always lived near the city but never in the city, and was ready to push myself again the way I had at TCNJ. Except more, naturally, because it was a more advanced degree at a more advanced school. Right? Not exactly.
On my first day, one of my professors who was old as dirt laid out a bunch of books on the table before us. She told us to thumb through them, so we did. She then informed us that these were all of her books she authored, and when we had as many publications as she did, then we were allowed to have an opinion in her class. Super, I thought, what a bitch. But of course, she had been tenured for twenty years which in her case meant that she was hungry for nothing more than a paycheck and her position was unflappable.
This was, I would come to find out, part of the problem with these celebritized professors. Either their egos had gotten so large that they were unwilling to engage in any sort of debate or rhetoric with us lowly students, or they had simply grown tired. How long can one teach the same material with believable fortitude? I don’t know. But I do know that all it took was a simple, “May I have an extension please?” to be granted one and absence meant almost nothing in terms of your grade at the end of the semester.
Hell, I decided about ten minutes into a welding class that I was terrified of welding, and flat out did not turn in a metalwork sculpture. It was one out of the three final projects we would be graded on that whole term, and I still received an A-. Trust me, my woodworking skills were not refined enough to carry me to the finish line, and I interpreted that grade as proof that I was paying for my degree, not my education.
So it has been eight years since I embarked on my ivy league journey.
Six since I graduated.
It will probably be another sixty before I’m done paying it off, and if we’re being honest, I’m not sure anyone really cares. My paycheck didn’t automatically inflate itself once my diploma was placed in my hand, and nobody came rushing to my side with job offers. I did, however, receive a bottle of Veuve from the University, which I promptly drank straight from the bottle in my light blue cap and gown walking down Broadway. That part didn’t suck…
I still believe in school and I realize that I have been very, very privileged along the way. Scholarships and fellowships and grants have given me my proverbial wings, just as student loans have given me my proverbial shackles. To that I say fuck you Sally Mae, and all your boomer comrades who told us to stay in school even though they only made it through the twelvth grade. Yeah, I’m looking at you mom and dad, because you might not remember when I was seventeen and you guys enthusiastically pushed student loans at me with the empty promise that I would graduate with a six figure job right on the other side, but I sure do.
I’m not bitter anymore (I mean, don’t ask my therapist) but I would like to end this on a positive note. My undergrad taught me that you can work yourself to death and still miss the mark on perfection – that perfect 4.0 – and you might not even have many friends to show for it in the end. But I had a great education there. I had phenomenal professors who actually gave a rat's ass about our opinions and expanding our minds. My masters taught me that sometimes you have to pay to play, and that when you’re spending $50k a year, you actually can just walk up to your teacher and say you want an extension. But freedom ain’t free, so be prepared to pony up when they come a’knockin’, and they always do.
Fast forward to 2021
Harlem NYC Engagement Photography
Mike and Madelyn's NYC Engagement Photos in Harlem | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
There’s always one moment during our engagement photo sessions—when I’m holding Heather’s backup camera lenses and am more-or-less a glorified coat rack—when a tingle goes up the top of my spine and out onto my shoulders. It is the same feeling you feel at the crescendo of a theatrical performance when you’re seated in the front row, or the first time as a kid when you walk up the tunnel of old Yankee Stadium to the bright lights and green grass; it is being witness to something spectacular. For us wedding photographers, it’s when you watch a couple look into each other’s eyes and really mean it.
As professional performers, Mike and Maddy were no strangers to the camera. It is almost literally in their job description to turn their facial expressions on and off like a light switch. But the first time we asked Mike and Maddy to bring their faces close and look into each other’s eyes it wasn’t a performance. It was real. It gave me that feeling that I’ve discovered that there’s actually a word for: frisson; a brief moment of emotional excitement. It is accessing that space and capturing that genuine connection between our couples that drives us. We just can never get enough.
Lucky for us, Mike and Maddy had moments like that on the ready as we moved through New York’s steamy summer streets. We started the photo session at the Hamilton Grange in Harlem, where they typically take their adorable dog, Millie, on a walk to a wonderfully secret local dog park. As the early evening golden light came through the trees, Mike and Maddy effortlessly showed us what it looks like to love someone. Turns out the fairytale vibes were just beginning.
In a beautiful combination of Heather’s understanding of the way that light refracts off of water and New York being New York, we stumbled across a fire hydrant spraying into the street. Whereas I would just walk by and smile as the neighborhood kids played and cooled off, Heather stopped all of us in our tracks and shouted “hol’ up!” She then told Mike and Maddy to do what they do best and love up on one another with the mist in the background. This moment led to one of my favorite images that Heather has ever taken and I look forward to storing it in my memory bank for years to come.
Mike and Maddy have decided to have a small wedding to celebrate their love in a couple weeks and it will be the first wedding we get to document as an Apollo Fields team since Covid-19 happened. I’d be lying if I said getting through the uncertainty of 2020 has been easy, but its engagement photo sessions in New York like these that my optimistic side will choose to focus on. Frissons of happiness may’ve seemed to be in short supply for the last few months, but if these photos of Mike and Maddy are any indication, we’ve got plenty of 2020 to look forward to.
Enjoy these sneaks from Madelyn and Mike’s Engagement Session:
Photography: Apollo Fields
Theme of 2019: Bet on Yourself
Apollo Fields’ Theme of 2019: Bet on Yourself.
Sometimes you lose (see above). Sometimes you win (see above). For the last five years Heather and I have been making silly bets like the loser has to take Riddle out to pee while blindfolded, and meaningful bets like starting a business together. We have taken some losses but our gains have transcended any scale that uses a bottom line. Of course, a business has to be lucrative, but we bet on who we are because we know when we connect with a couple it isn’t just a vendor relationship it is the beginning of a friendship.
Just last night Heather and I shared a meal with one of our 2020 couples, Michelle and Igor. Michelle and Igor just moved to New York as Igor received a job as the new executive chef for the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. In a meal of delicious fresh oysters, a wonderfully rich fresh cavatelli ragu, a steaming pot of mussels, a few drinks, and two scrumptious chocolate-y desserts, I still have to say the best thing about dinner was the company we found ourselves in. With a balance of silly humor, distinct professionalism, and personal stories of our respective family and friends, we laughed and talked for hours.
This type of night was the norm for 2019. From when we photographed Rob & Lizzie’s performance-based wedding in the woods of Cazenovia, NY, to Emily & Augie’s intimate and classy backyard wedding in Cape Cod, MA, we didn’t seem to have a night where we weren’t genuinely emotionally invested in the people who surrounded us. We hosted another 20-friend Friendsgiving dinner in our home and accumulated another guest-book rolling-pin to memorialize the friendships in the room that night. Cultivating friendships is difficult but when you realize that they are the things we turn to in times of loss and of levity their worth becomes much more apparent.
We are lucky to run a business where our ideal client is also our ideal friend. Hard-working people who love to feel almost as much as they love to be themselves. The kind of people who pretend a wooden spoon is a microphone and sing into it like “the piano sounds like a carnival, and the microphone smells like a beer!” The kind of people who look you in the eye and hold a hug just a second or two longer. The kind of people who create their lives rather than let it consume them. The kind of people who bet on themselves.
We have taken our lumps this year, coming off the tragic ending of 2018, but Heather and I married one another because we will always bet on one another as individuals. We know how quickly things can turn for the worse but by hedging our bets with one another our losses will never be that great. If 2019 is any indication for the future, our gains will be less volatile and more rewarding for years to come.
Here’s to you you fine friends and fellow feelers: Here’s to the tears we shed and the hugs we hold on to. Here’s to those we lost and the future we’re creating. Here’s to betting on yourself and living with love in your heart.
Happy New Year,
Terrence & Heather
The Apollo Fields Fam
Some of our favorite 2019 venues we worked at:
The Evergreen Lake House | Evergreen CO
Granite Ridge Barn and Estate | Norway ME
Wedgewood Boulder Creek | Boulder CO
The Art Factory | Paterson NY
Top of the Rock | NYC
Normandy Farm | Blue Bell PA
Six Harbors Brewery | Huntington NY
620 Loft and Garden | NYC
Perona Farms | Anderson NJ
The Box House Hotel | Brooklyn NY
Estancia 460 NYC Engagement Session
Igor and Michelle’s Engagement Photos in New York City | Estancia 460 NYC | Destination Wedding Photographers
There’s something so exciting about moving to a new city that makes you feel like everything is possible. Somehow all of the stresses, restraints, or regrets from the past are quickly forgotten and your new surroundings shine in the sunlight. Igor and Michelle just moved to New York from Los Angeles and before this engagement shoot had never even been to Central Park. I get giddy just thinking about them walking around on the winding paths I love so much. There’s something special about sharing something dear to your heart with others, and Igor and Michelle have an endless amount of avenues and streets and paths to explore. Everything is possible to them.
Igor and Michelle moved to New York with 4-year-old Harrison because Igor was offered the executive chef position at The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. Foodies through and through, they can’t wait to share delicious meals in one of the toughest cities to run a successful restaurant. Partly because rent is so damn high and partly because competition exists on every corner and down every alley—if you’re running a restaurant in New York City you have to be consistent and service-forward. With Igor’s experience at Intercontinental Hotel Downtown Los Angeles you better believe he can bring it.
The other aspect of New York that really excites Igor and Michelle is the architecture. They particularly love to go on architectural boat tours that showcase the history of Manhattan. From the quirky, cobblestone streets of the Financial District to the iconic buildings like the Flatiron or the Chrysler, the structures are almost as unique as the people. Almost.
Igor and Michelle will be getting married in Los Angeles in 2020 and we look forward to getting to know their former hometown. Heather and I love the beach almost as much as we love the mountains, as they provide us the natural sounds that we long for. These are a far cry from the horns and sirens of big cities, and give us an energy that only the natural world possesses. That was a huge reason why we moved to Denver and plan to return one day. I imagine Igor and Michelle will head out to the beaches of Long Island come summer time to fill the void of the west coast.
Everything seems possible when you move to a new place because everything is. Sometimes we forget that when we’ve been in one place for too long, but if you always welcome change you will always be allowing new possibilities. Cheers to Igor and Michelle starting the next chapter of their lives.
As seen in: Popped! Mag
Brooklyn Bridge Park DUMBO Photography
Katie & Anthony’s Anniversary Session | DUMBO Brooklyn Photography | Top of the Rock Session | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
From a Colorado mountain engagement sunrise session to an anniversary celebration in New York City, the early hours of daylight continue to breathe new life into our work. Who knew that the Brooklyn Bridge is literally empty at sunrise? Or that you can basically have a private session at the Top of the Rock if you show up around opening time? By utilizing the sunrise rather than our beloved “golden hour” sunset, we captured one-of-a-kind moments of Katie and Anthony that they will cherish forever.
Katie, a fellow photographer based out of Illinois initially found us through our shared network of shutterbugs. This made taking their anniversary photos a breeze! There’s nothing like working with professionals who know what they’re doing. It was refreshing despite the fact that it required us to get out of bed at 4am. Through yawns and coffee we all powered through and had a magical morning.
I say magical because you will never find a time where the Brooklyn Bridge is completely empty — it was like stepping onto the front of the stage at Carnegie Hall to an empty auditorium — and the silence and solitude allowed the immensity of the structure to sink in. That’s because a moment of peaceful reflection in New York City is more rare than an empty, clean air conditioned subway car. You gotta get real lucky to find one. Or maybe you just gotta get up as bars are just closing and the morning papers are hot off the presses (Do people still say this in the 21st century?)
The point is, if you have your heart set on a certain shot in a certain spot in New York City, you have to make a concerted effort like Katie and Anthony to get it. Otherwise it’s a battle against a city of 8 million people who all have a place to be. At Apollo Fields, we are more than willing to schedule a sunrise session because of what it avails us — whether in New York or in the Rockies (or anywhere else for that matter!) — because there is an undeniable peace or resetting of the mind that comes with the real beginning of the day.
Don’t settle for the cookie cutter images that other people have. Don’t settle for what is easy. Pursue the photo or the life you imagine because the world outside of your body should reflect what’s on the inside. The kids say that they’re “woke,” and Childish Gambino tells ‘em to stay that way, but we’re telling you to wake up early, reset your mind, and truly embrace the peaceful light of the day—at least once in awhile.
Enjoy these photos from Katie & Anthony’s anniversary session:
New York City Photography: Apollo Fields
Locations: Brooklyn Bride | DUMBO | Top of the Rock
From our family to yours!
There are bumps in every road and our wheelchair-bound badass Jack Russel, Riddle, handles them better than most. For those who aren’t afraid of life’s curveballs, drop us a line, we’d love to be your friends or your photographers!
Central Park Maternity Session in NYC
Krista & Kevin’s Maternity Photos | Central Park, NYC | Bethesda Fountain, New York City | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
I was so excited to work with Krista and Kevin again (I shot their engagement photos in Central Park a few years ago) because this time we were meeting up to do their maternity session! I don’t take on too many maternity shots because it really is its own niche and I think specializing is awesome; however, I love being able to capture the lifetime milestones — especially for couple’s who I’ve worked with in the past for engagements and weddings.
It was great to catch up with this fun couple in New York and hear all about what they have been up to the last few years. Krista is from Finland, Kevin is American, and they live in NYC together. They are such a fun and dynamic couple and I love capturing their relationship. They are 33 weeks along and expecting a daughter in May which is a really exciting time for them! It is their first baby and they are getting excited with only a few more weeks left.
Maternity photos are one of those things that a lot of women sort of snark at, but I think when they are done by a professional photographer with good lighting can be absolutely stunning. I love these images for so many reasons, but I think that they really honor womanhood and this sacred transition of becoming a mother. I see these photos and I see strength and beauty, and a glowing mama-to-be.
I had an awesome time heading back into Central Park with them to capture this milestone! It was a beautiful Sunday and the city starts to come back to life after its winter hibernation. Spring in NYC is unlike anything else and this session was a little taste of that. We were also lucky to get an AMAZING golden hour and the light was just so dreamy! I could have shot them until dark because they are such a sweet and gorgeous couple to work with. I’m so excited for them to have these photos to look back on and remember this special time and I can’t wait for them to welcome their daughter in just a few more weeks.
Maternity Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields
Talent: Krista Lanning
Location: Bethesda Fountain, Central Park NYC
Top Of The Rock Photographers in NYC
Callie & Tyler | Top of the Rock NYC | Central Park New York | Rockefeller Center | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
I’m really excited about this session for a lot of reasons but I think the biggest reason is because it really represents both of the worlds that I love – skyscrapers and mountains – since Callie & Tyler came out from Colorado to visit NYC for their anniversary! It was so fun to connect with them in the city and get to show an awesome CO couple this city that I love so much. Callie is also a wedding photographer in Colorado and runs Callie Riesling Photography. She loves to travel and has a great blog of her own about all of the places that she goes for work and play with her family!
I was so excited when I found out that they would be in NYC at the same time as me. We chatted about their itinerary and decided that we would begin the afternoon skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park and then head over to Top of the Rock for golden hour. This was the perfect blend of iconic New York without being too touristy for me and it seemed to match their styles, too.
Callie and Tyler both love skating but are used to wearing hockey skates so they had me laughing when we first began since (I didn’t know this) regular skates are different than hockey skates, so they told me that they might be super clumsy on the ice and hanging onto each other to avoid falling. Well, of course they got out there and still looked like champs, so I was happy to be on the sidelines because I would have definitely been eating the ice if that were me!
Then we walked down to Rockefeller Center and headed up to the observation deck at Top of the Rock. Our timing was perfect because the sun was just beginning to set and the golden light was approaching. It was cloudy and we didn’t get a true “golden” hour, but the light was super soft and dreamy and the city was pretty magnificent anyway! We got to watch the sun set and the city lights all begin to turn on while snapping photos away in one of NYC’s best locations. A perfect end to a session, I’d say!
I was so happy to spend the afternoon with this couple because we immediately clicked about the wedding industry, Colorado life, and the contrasts and similarities with NYC. It was great to show them around my city for a bit and play tour guide since I’m so used to seeing New York from a local’s point of view now that I forget sometimes how amazing it truly is.
New York City Photography: Apollo Fields
Locations:
Top of the Rock | NYC
Central Park | NYC
Rockefeller Center | NYC
New York Wedding Photographers on Long Island
New York City Wedding Photographers | Colorado Weddings | Apollo Fields Photojournalism | NYC Photography
“Did you guys miss New York?”
This is one of those questions we have been asked by everyone since moving back East. And it’s a good question, but the answer is complicated… When we moved to Colorado in 2016, we were veryready to move. But it wasn’t because we hated NYC, it was just time. It was time to be in nature and time to be in an unknown place together. Big moves like that can make or break a relationship, and for us I guess we got lucky.
When I first moved to New York City a few years before that, I barely knew anyone and the people that I did know were in different boroughs. Despite always having the city close by, the UWS was as much of a mystery to me as if I had moved to Los Angeles by myself. I learned a lot about myself in that first year while I was getting my MA and living in a tiny studio apartment on 105thStreet. It was just me and Riddle, a mini fridge, an oven that leaked Carbon Monoxide, and a sort-of-view of the Hudson River if you hung your head out of the prison-sized window.
I was still living in that death trap of an apartment when I met Terrence. I was riding out my lease before moving farther uptown, but I can still remember one of our first dinners together there. We were eating on the couch because I only had one dining room chair and Terrence was cautioning me about how he didn’t eat onions, fish, tomatoes, etc. I had no idea how to feed such a picky eater, so I just went ahead cooking like I normally did anyway. How far we’ve come since those days.
For as much as I learned about myself being single in NYC, I think we learned as much about each other when we made the move to the mountains together. We had very few connections in CO when we first moved and had to learn how to lean on one another in ways that we hadn’t before. Even though we had lived together in New York, we always had additional roommates (such is life in Manhattan). We had a very familiar neighborhood in New York filled to the brim with drinking buddies, walk-able pubs, and enough libations to stay busy until 4am any time we felt like it.
We landed in Colorado and everything quieted down. We only had each other and our little cottage. We found ourselves less intrigued by urban life and much more content hanging at a local brewery in town with a couple beers and a board game. We got bikes and went hiking, we spent afternoons at the dog park and evenings cuddled up on our couch. Life was good and it was hard to miss NYC at that time.
We were still flying back East multiple times a year for weddings and holidays. We were always happy to come back to familiar faces and good ethnic food. Distance helps you weed out the drinking buddies and bring family to the surface, or at least that was the case for us. Don’t get me wrong, we can still throw back a few shots at a dive bar, but suddenly, we were more interested in making a push for spending time with our siblings instead.
Our decision to move back was multidimensional. We are looking to buy a farm to turn into a wedding venue and the numbers just weren’t adding up in Colorado. The real estate market there was pretty volatile: we were part of a huge boom of fellow transplants making the Rocky Mountain move and we got in too late. By the time we were ready to look at properties, everything was selling above already-high asking prices. Zoning was a nightmare, and anything with a mountain view was just plain cost prohibitive. With the average all-in price of a CO wedding coming in at $26k and NY suburbs at roughly $65k+, we weren’t about to take that kind of business risk just to keep our beloved mountains in our backyard.
So as you all know, at the end of September we packed up our little cottage into our Highlander and drove back East. Animals and cameras in tow, we hit the ground running—getting married, wrapping up busy season, and honeymooning in Jamaica while settling into a new house. We are finally slowing down (but not for long).
We’ve moved into a cute yellow house in East Northport, five minutes from Terrence’s dad and stepmom. We went from a 550sq foot cottage to a real house, which after a few Salvation Army raids is beginning to feel like a home. We are living well by Long Island standards: fenced-in backyard, walking distance to the LIRR, and a ten-minute drive to the North Shore.
Despite being an hour train or car ride from the city, this is a very different lifestyle than when we were actually living in NYC. We are very much in a commuter / family town. The delis and pizzerias are good, but that’s about it in the way of local flavor and small town charm. It is nice to be closer to family again. We have been into the city a few times and it’s been great. We hit The Whitney for the Andy Warhol exhibit and gorged ourselves on international food. We ride the subways like nothing has changed, and traversed up and down the blocks with the sharp cold air lingering on our cheeks.
New York will always be our city, even though if we’re being honest I don’t think I’ll ever live in it again. It doesn’t fit our lifestyle, business trajectory, or relationship anymore. In a perfect world, we won’t be on Long Island for very long, either. We would love to end up on a farm in Bucks County PA or upstate NY. We have big dreams of hosting weddings, homesteading, and photographing more and more amazing couples. We envision an old barn, a big fireplace, chickens and kiddos running through the fields, and a labor-of-love property that gives us as much as we give it.
So the short answer is, yes we missed New York but we also miss Colorado. We like walking through museums as well as walking up mountains. We love our family here and love our friends in CO. We miss the big western skies and the “300 days of sunshine” that we got so used to. But we’re glad to get a decent bagel again. We are lucky because we get to experience such a range of landscapes, and because of our business, we don’t have to choose one or the other. We get to go back to the Rockies for work and play, and in the meantime we are stoked to start to look to the future to find the quirky farm venue that will turn into the biggest passion project we’ve taken on so far.
Equestrian Photoshoot Ideas for Senior Photos
Horse Photography | Equine Portraits | Senior Photos | Capricorn Farm, Golden Colorado | Warmblood Horses | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Aralimbo’s last home, Capricorn Farm in Jefferson County, Colorado, is a peaceful oasis that is permanently painted into my mind. Seated right in front of North Table Mountain in Golden, CO, every sunset sunk behind the Rocky Mountains too quickly, splashing palates of pink, yellow, and blue into the open sky like a landscape portrait by your favorite impressionist painter. The kicker of Capricorn Farm, though, was the owner, Katie, and her daughter, Jenna, who rode and worked that idyllic farm property as naturally as North Table Mountain emerged from the soil of the front range.
Farm life isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but those who dive head first into the hay do so because they love animals more than they love themselves. Katie, like most barn owners we’ve met, evoked a stern, take-no-shit attitude when we first talked shop with her. Then, when we saw her walk through the stable, strutting in her element, shaking the dust from the field from her jacket, we noticed the heart behind the hard work. The way she reached out to touch her equine friends was as gentle as a gardener’s whisper; the way she looked into their eyes as sensitive as a mother’s gaze. It’s only in the rare few that these two seemingly opposite character traits – toughness and tenderness – materialize into the calloused hands of the seasoned farmer.
The last month we were in Colorado, Heather secretly did a photo session with Jenna and her horse, Justice, as a thank you gift for Katie’s loving care of Aralimbo. There’s a certain bond between a horse and the rider, Heather keeps telling me, and it first became evident in those photographs. Jenna was heading off to college and was heartbroken leaving Justice in Colorado, but such is the price you pay when you love something so much. Yet that day at Capricorn, Heather immortalized Jenna and Justice’s bond in photographs that will also reinforce Jenna’s relationship with Katie. It reminded me that distance between loved ones can always change with time, but remembering the moments that shaped our lives never will.
There’s something about the love of animals that makes having weddings at barns or farms more appropriate than banquet halls. Perhaps it’s the unconditional love that’s exchanged between eyes, the reward of hard work, or the many loves that the old wooden walls must’ve seen over time. All I know is that Heather and I are going to find a farm wedding venue that captures whatever it is.
Whether a trend or if farm weddings are here to stay, having the privilege to meet people like Katie and Jenna is why we are in the industry that we are in. Nothing means more to us than providing meaningful pathways for families, couples, or relatives to connect to one another. It just so happens that many of the people in our lives have an overwhelming amount of love for the other creatures we share this earth with. If it’s anything we can learn from them is that although their hands are calloused, it doesn’t prevent them from also being gentle.
Jenna & Justice
Horse Photography: Apollo Fields
Venue: Capricorn Farm
Central Park Engagement Session in New York City
NEW YORK CITY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY | CENTRAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHER | DESTINATION WEDDINGS ERNY PHOTO CO
Before moving to Colorado, New York City was my home. It still holds a piece of my heart, with so many wonderful memories there, including meeting my awesome boyfriend. As much as I love Colorado, I miss it from time to time. So I was really excited to head back to my old stomping grounds and photograph Morgan and Matt's Central Park engagement session in NYC!
Their entire session was really relaxed and upbeat. It felt more like hanging out than a photo session! We all laughed as we explored Central Park together. Morgan and Matt were also really playful throughout their session, which was so awesome. I love how they were able to just kick back and be themselves. It allowed me to really get into my groove and take some amazing photos.
About Morgan and Matt
These two have it all. They are smart, outdoorsy and they can cook. They're kind of the perfect couple. They also enjoy hiking, which happens to be what they were doing when they got engaged, and they also have two adorable cats.
I cannot wait for their upstate New York wedding next summer at Handsome Hallow!
Morgan and Matt's Central Park Engagement Session in New York City
Heather Huie of Apollo Fields is a New York Based Wedding Photographer who loves to travel. If you're planning a Central Park or New York City wedding, she'd love to chat with you! Reach out by using her contact form!